Backlog in Crown Court cases increases

HM Courts and Tribunal Service’s latest court statistics have shown that there is an increase in the backlog of Crown Court cases, despite a previous reduction. This has worsened an already tumultuous situation for those waiting for their cases to be handled.

As of June, 2022, the number of pending cases stands at 58,973, compared to 58,750 in April, 2022. In May, 2022 the number was 60,415.

The rate of completed cases have also dropped as in June, 2022, 7,244 cases were completed, compared to 8,100 in May and 9,372 in March, 2022.

The President of the Law Society of England and Wales, I. Stephanie Boyce, stated:

“The latest figures show the Crown Court backlog is no longer falling, but increasing leaving victims and defendants facing unacceptable delays. Month-on-month the backlog has increased by 223 cases and June saw 2,128 fewer cases being completed than in March.

The UK government needs to explain why the number of completed cases in June was almost 23% lower than in March and what it is doing to return to March levels. Courts are in a crumbling state and the criminal justice system is on its knees.

Innocent defendants could face years in limbo before their name is cleared, while victims’ suffering is compounded by the long wait for justice. To make a significant dent in the backlog, sustained investment is needed to ensure there are enough judges, prosecutors, and defence lawyers to cover the mountain of cases.”

The situation has been further exacerbated by strike action taken by barristers who have organised walk-outs from June to August, as well as court walkouts and refusing to accept new instructions, due to the government’s proposals on legal aid. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) have asked for the government to uplift rates by 25%.

Boyce advocated for the government to increase legal aid to help deal with the backlog. She said:

“Firstly, the UK government should commit to the bare minimum 15% increase in criminal legal aid rates for criminal defence solicitors as recommended by Lord Bellamy.”

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have come under increased criticism for the lack of funds provided to deal with the backlog as more and more victims are not receiving justice, leading to a lack of confidence from the public in the legal sector.

The official figures can be viewed here.